Issaquah School District released a letter to families on Tuesday outlining several approaches they plan to implement. Our new vision statement shows that were looking at the whole child we want them to thrive, not just survive.. While risk of suicide and suicidal ideation rises with age, and most suicide-prevention programs in schools focus on teenage suicide, as of 2020, suicide has become the second leading cause of. Theres always more to do. SE in Sammamish. Two Skyline High School juniors have died by suspected fentanyl overdoses within the last two months. 2023 Cox Media Group. Sammamish We are one today to speak to you about how were coming together for a very important public safety warning today, Johanknecht said. A memorial was held at Sammamish High School in honor of senior Amaya Storseth. It is their peers who know the who, what, where, when, and how of this epidemicWe hope and pray by taking action, [that] no other family will need to face such a heartbreaking situation as the one that is now ours.. ISD has organized an event for the Skyline parent community focusing on the steps the school takes to educate and prevent students from drug and alcohol use. The grant would fund education and training to administer Narcan. Varsity Provided by. Here's What Sammamish-Issaquah Moms Really Want For Mother's Day! Last year Pierce County saw 153 drug overdose deaths. Update, 6:20 p.m., March 7: A 16-year-old Issaquah High School student was being remembered and mourned in online tributes Thursday, a day after she committed suicide. Sammamish-Issaquah, WA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates No school should be called a pharmacy.. According to an email the high school sent out to Eastlake parents, Unger was a former Eastlake student. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. Seattle teen faces threat of mass shooting - Washington News Seattle teen faces threat of mass shooting Delaney Johnston An 18-year-old Seattle student was arrested and charged with double molestation for threatening to shoot students at Sammamish High School in Bellevue. An 18-year-old Seattle student has been arrested and charged with two counts of felony harassment for threatening to shoot students at Sammamish High School in Bellevue. There needs to be an understanding of behavioral health struggles kids face such as anxiety and depression Blackburn said. The teachers . King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht shows what M30 pills look like at a news conference Wednesday. A community meeting is being planned for Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at Skyline High School, 1122 228th Ave. S.E. "[His note] was full of love, and his last message to us was to live hard," said McLauchlan. The Beirer family has organized a GoFundMe campaign with a goal to expand and amplify progressive drug-prevention efforts that have the power to eradicate illegal opioid substance abuse. It is headed to Gov. Ian's death left a lot of teens at school wondering how a bright, energetic young man could have been in such trouble. It is headed to Gov. They say counterfeit pills bought illegally can often appear to be legitimate pharmaceutical drugs but are tainted with dangerous ingredients. Sheriffs detectives in the Major Crimes Unit are in the early stages of their investigation to track the source of the fentanyl, which is believed to have been shipped into King County from overseas, she said. Sammamish Mayor Christie Malchow said parents, students and the greater community are heartbroken over the losses of the two Sammamish students. Counselors are available as well as teachers and other staff to serve as resources for our Eastlake students, staff and families as they go through the grieving process or have the need to talk or express difficult feelings, the email stated. Include student name, student ID#, date(s) of absence, period(s) missed and reason for absence. To learn more about the online tip form, visit www.issaquah.wednet.edu/tip. While the investigation is still ongoing, Johanknecht said, officials believe the two teens most likely ingested what they thought were legitimate oxycodone tablets when, in fact, they were dangerous, counterfeit drugsmeaning the drugs were traced with other toxic drugs, like fentanyl. (See original story below.). Girls Tennis It is headed to Gov. ", Example video title will go here for this video. Two Skyline High School juniors have died by suspected fentanyl overdoses within the last two months. No one was hurt and Bellevue police said no crimes were committed during the Friday protest. Tom Beatty, a 16-year-old junior, died Aug. 11. opioids, she said. Lindbergh All students will sign in at the Attendance Office before going to class, including during passing periods. A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. This loss is our bond. Detectives are working through the Skyline High Schools rumor mill to try to figure out where the two Sammamish teens purchased the illicit pills, she said. The majority of the deaths are young and non-homeless men. Jay Inslee for his expected signing. In situations where someone doesnt feel safe and they cant learn because of that, I feel like something should be done, said Marisa Leinaweader, another Newport student. Parents need to be involved and need to make sure their kids are kindwords are what hurt the worst.. The King County Medical Examiners Office ruled the death, which happened in Bellevue, a suicide. Sammamish The student will pick up their early dismissal pass before school on the day they are to leave early. Sammamish HS, 4:00pm Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Emergency medical technicians were dispatched to the home but were not able to revive the student, a message emailed to parents Thursday said. Varsity Stef Storseth said her daughter was not the first case, nor will she be the last. "It's hard to feel normal when you've gone through such a big tragedy.". Home About Sammamish Staff Derrick Richardson Details of Ian's death aren't publicly shared by his family, but McLauchlan will tell you Ian died from a fall. Dr. Patty Siegwarth, BSDs executive director of schools, said the average investigation is completed in five days. Bellevue police said they launched an investigation and were investigating the case as potential juvenile domestic violence case. Soccer This is my mission. We intend to engage similarly with all our city partnersWe know that talking about it is not enough.. Weve been making it a point for a couple of years to educate as broadly as we possibly can on the dangers of getting involved with opioids, she said. Michelle said in response to the recent fentanyl deaths, the district changed its anonymous reporting process. Beirers family released a statement to the Skyline community Wednesday. Find yearbooks from Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Washington for the class of 1989 and older. In addition to the Drug & Alcohol Use in Our Community event, ISD said it will continue to hold parent and community information meetings around substance use. We also recognize that friends often hold a powerful influence on their peers, they said in a statement shared with the Skyline community. Innis Ardin, 6:00pm Johanknecht said theres no way to trace a specific fentanyl-laced pill to a specific illegal distributor because there is no consistency among the dealers in the way they mix the pills. Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. Influence the Choice partners with school districts in circumstances of a community need. The students who use illegal drugs, she said, are not bad kids. Students feel academically pressured to perform well. Washingtons COVID-19 exposure notification app is scheduled to conclude May 11 in tandem with the end of the Public Health. We hope to weave this topic into more of our events, Michelle said. Madison Miller / staff photo, Public Health of Seattle-King County strategic advisor, Brad Finegood, discusses the dangers of fentanyl at Wednesdays news conference following the deaths of two Sammamish teens. Snohomish However, multiple students said they were upset by how the district responded in this case as well and other cases. The date was May 8, 2017. Varsity Sammamish He said 911 should be called immediately and Narcan or naloxone an opioid antagonist available at any major pharmacy should be administered as soon as possible. Health officials say you should never take any pill not directly given from a pharmacy or doctor, including pills purchased online. Now, people can file a more detailed, and still anonymous, report through each school website. Hell draw from statistics hes gathering from King County Emergency Medical Services. Varsity Storseth was a senior varsity basketball player and a member of the schools Black Student Union. Its the students that are alone that are tempted by temporary problem solvers i.e. Bellevue The sheriff was flanked on both sides by county and city leaders, including Sammamish's mayor and city manager, who pledged to work in tandem with law enforcement, schools and parents to find solutions and keep kids safe. Students and staff can report harassment, intimidation and bullying in three ways: anonymous, confidential and non-confidential. Issaquah School District (ISD) school board president Harlan Gallinger said the district is working to support its students and families during this time. Rachel Pinter, Storseths former English teacher, said Storseth taught her a lot about weathering lifes storms. Its the storm that tethers us. Thorn said additional mental health resources such as safe spaces have been made available for Bellevue students. Im dedicated to contribute to making this change, Stef Storseth said. "There's a lot of kids doing a lot of projects, and blogging or artwork related to Ian and his passionate plea to live hard," said McLauchlan. 1 TOLO Dance She said Skyline has a problem. Neklason said while opioids make up a small percentage of teen substance abuse in the communities, its still deadly. Any additional pre-arranged absence requests will result in unexcused absences. Report an absence, late arrival or early dismissal: Reason for missing class must meet the guidelines in procedure 3122p. A Seattle 18-year-old was charged with felony harassment and felony cyber harassment after allegedly threatening hurt students at Sammamish High School. Of those, 10 involved cocaine, 18 involved fentanyl, 38 involved heroin, 53 involved prescription opioids and 68 deaths were tied to meth. JV Varsity The majority of the deaths are young and non-homeless men. Schools are only one area of a community.. "I just wish he knew that we would have fought for him," cried McLauchlan. Sentencing in suitcase murders | Podcast, King County Councilmember proposes regional ban on public drug use, King County Crisis Care Levy passing in first election results, Washingtons COVID-19 exposure notification app to end May 11, Firearms scheme leads to federal charges | King County Crime Dive. Sammamish Sammamish HS, 4:45pm After a mom lost her teen son to suicide, she decided to live out his mission in order to help others. As such, when considering what to say during such a sensitive conversation, the main goal is to help your student express his/her feelings in a safe and supportive environment. Any possible policy changes would have to come through Bellevue school board directors, but Thorn said the response process would be looked at closely. But after that incident, five students were expelled for violating school rules during the protest. Losing any member of our Skyline family is extremely difficult, said Keith Hennig, Skyline High School principal, in an email to the Skyline community. If passed, the property tax levy will help fund behavioral health infrastructure in the region. Lindbergh HS, 5:45pm Lucina Partis Photo from Facebook Sammamish Senior High School. Before, on each school website, people had the option to file an anonymous tip without providing much supplemental information. Sammamish Read More, Lunch Special: Mandarin Orange Chicken with Broccoli & Brown Rice, 3:30pm A third teen, Ballard High School student Gabriel Lilienthal, also recently died from a fentanyl overdose. Most diverse school. The least the administration could do is ease us of any uncertainty we may have concerning our own safety at school, another student wrote. The school has extra counselors on hand and will offer outreach to students and staff. Students covering administration offices with sticky notes, as well as using vulgar language were among the rule violations. Some said they wanted to bring attention to a problem they believe is district-wide, and not isolated to Newport. Executive director Jerry Blackburn said the nonprofits focus is prevention and support. They are asking everyone to learn the risks associated with street drugs and learn how to help if you witness an overdose in progress. Sammamish believes that strong distributed leadership at all levels is an essential piece of successful schools. Victims shouldnt be punished for wanting to be safe, one student wrote. Neklason said while teens tend to abuse marijuana and alcohol more, that use is more visible. There needs to be more awareness, and as a community, we can make our voices loud and be heardwe cant have this happen again.. Update, 6:20 p.m., March 7: A 16-year-old Issaquah High School student was being remembered and mourned in online tributes Thursday, a day after she committed suicide. While the greater Sammamish community was shocked by the recent fentanyl overdoses, students werent. Were very heartbroken by what has happened in our community, she said. They touched on the dangers of taking any pill, unless prescribed by a doctor. "He was the coolest kid from a very early age," said McLauchlan. Nationally, figures released by the CDC show overdose deaths have steadily over the last two decades. Apr. Tom Beatty, a 16-year-old junior, died Aug. 11. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005. "I'm OK with not knowing because his legacy has been so important to us and the community.". While I cannot share more details out of respect for the student's family, our primary concern is supporting our school community during this difficult time. The Bellevue School District (BSD) has a policy currently in place on the prohibition of harassment, intimidation and bullying. The commitment is there.. The news conference served as a public service announcement on the dangers of illegal substance abuse, and as a continued promise for the city and school district to work together to address the issue among local youth. Student leaders along with the student body overcame mixed emotions about the change, and the student body voted for . We hear that some people feel ashamed that this has come into their home and community. Death, she said, can be sudden or can be gradual.. Where we can support our students to peacefully protest and to share their concerns, when that takes a turn and thats violated per our school board policy, we have to implement a lockdown for the health and safety of all of our students. Storseth was a senior varsity basketball player and a member of the. The female student reported the incident to school staff, who contacted police. Froshmore A student-organized memorial was held March 28 to honor the life of Sammamish High School student Amaya Storseth. Were constantly looking at what steps to take to serve the whole child.. Lucas died Sept. 30, and Thomas Beatty, 16, died in August. Shorecrest Theyre not responding, despite how hard the loved one tries to wake them. We walk in the door and theyre doing the best they can, but struggling because its their loved one, Anderson said. King County Public Health says the growing number of deaths linked to fentanyl is directly driven by these tainted drugs found all over the county. I was really upset that would happen. Girls Tennis The risk of accidental overdose is high, Neklason said, because students dont know what theyre getting. Early Bird Tickets on Sale May 8-19 The school district plans to educate students specifically about the dangers of fentanyl and talk to parents about what to watch out for. In terms of prevention, BSD schools have trained counselors and make support resources available to all students. It will be the start of the healing process, ISD school board member, Harlan Gallinger, said at the Oct. 2 news conference. Birth, Marriage & Death ; Immigration & Travel ; Public Member Trees ; Military ; Card Catalog ; Member Search ; DNA . Sammamish HS, 4:00pm In Bellevue on Oct. 22 and Oct. 30, YES will join the Bellevue School District and Bellevue Police Department for information sessions in response to the student deaths. The Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Compliance Officer is Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or phamn@bsd405.org. Johanknecht urged any students with information to come forward and said they could hand over any suspect pills without worrying about getting in trouble. Girls Tennis While it may be the start of the healing process, ISD has been working to address substance abuse in its schools for years ISD Superintendent Ron Thiele said at the Oct. 10 school board meeting. We need to help them walk through adversity rather than fighting itWe need to reach kids where theyre at.. Wed:7:15am 2:30pm, Sammamish Senior Prom The district said there are multiple internal investigations ongoing, both into how the school responded after the assault report, as well as the response after the first protest. Josh Mallory of Sammamish was announced dead through social media publications. 100 140th Avenue Se, Bellevue, Washington | (425) 456-7600. This can be done no more than one week in advance of the date needed. Ian had spent the weekend at his dad's house before sneaking out without a trace. Sammamish High School sophomore Maya Gheewala makes the case for unmasked and distanced water and snack breaks in the school day to help keep students energized and focused in their studies. Other times, someone may feel off-kilter and use opioids to try and numb anxiety, depression and traumas. He preached that awareness is one of the biggest solutions to the problem. Three King County teens have recently died from fentanyl overdoses. Lindbergh A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. There are also many good resources about grief available online. Left: King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht, King County councilmember Kathy Lambert and Sammamish Police Chief Michelle Bennett. Detectives are aware of at least five overdoses in recent days linked to counterfeit blue pills. Staff Directory, M, Tu, Th, & F:Start: 8:00am | End: 3:00pm, M-T-T-F: 7:15am 4:00pm Varsity A student who reported being physically assaulted was among the students expelled. Washingtons COVID-19 exposure notification app is scheduled to conclude May 11 in tandem with the end of the Public Health. Our hearts ache for our students and school communities that have been and continue to be impacted by the devastating effects of opiatesWe have invested in additional counselors and Swedish Hospital mental health specialists in every secondary school, ISD said in a statement. If excusing a late arrival or early dismissal, include the arrival or departure time. Teachers, students and parents play important roles in leading Sammamish High School. A very tiny amount can be fatal, Yarid said, estimating the counterfeit pills cost $27 to $30 each on the street, which is more expensive than heroin. Now were constantly using this and constantly having to restock our kits, said Capt. We all need to come together to make a change, she said. Sammamish High School Yearbook Class of 1986 130 images, 2647 students, 123 faculty . The Bellevue School District is also committed to providing a safe and civil educational environment that is free from harassment, intimidation, or bullying. Renton Any and all reports are collected by the school and an investigation is launched immediately, the district reports. Weve heard kids say theyre chasing a new high, Johanknecht said. 5 students were expelled from Newport HS after a protest last week broke rules, but demands for change continue. Girls Tennis Madison Miller / staff photo, Sammamish mayor Christie Malchow assures parents and community members that the city and the school districts will work together to provide better education and resources to prevent another fentanyl overdose. SAMMAMISH, WA The recent overdose deaths of two Skyline High School students have families and county leaders taking action. A number of students are now working on a YouTube series focusing on adventures students have lived in the past year. "He was funny, and he was a prankster. Lindbergh Sammamish And according to her, Skyline often goes by another name: The Pharmacy., Lets not forget that at least at my school, Skyline is called The Pharmacy and thats an issue that weve been dealing with as of late and that irritates a lot of people, Singereanu said. "There was nothing that ever indicated that there was something wrong, but the outcome is clearly something was.". I got home and I immediately started crying. From left, Skyline High School juniors Tom Beatty died Aug. 11 and Lucas Beirer died Sept. 30. Sammamish Josh Mallory Death - 11th-grade Skyline High School student has passed away "suddenly and unexpectedly", according to a statement released by Keith Hennig, the Principal at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Washington. The first sign that someone is in danger is irregular sleep patterns for instance, someone snoring who doesnt usually snore or someone who is difficult to wake up, Finegood said. Sammamish Im really surprised thats how the school did that, and I think they couldve handled it a lot better, said Leinaweader said. However, it doesnt mean its not an issue. What they should look for is a change in behavior. King County recently lost three teenagers to opioid overdoses. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The first protest was at Newport High School on Friday. Our everyday norm now is going into a bathroom and seeing kids knocked out on the floor or puffs of who knows what above the stalls and thats a scary reality to face every day, Singereanu said. Varsity Fentanyl has been detected in a large number of these cases. Junior Niya Norris and senior Isabella Flores dedicate a song to Amaya during the March 28 memorial. We will work with the parents to find solutions and get at the root issue. The demonstrations continued at Interlake, Sammamish, and Newport high schools on Tuesday after five students were expelled from Newport High School for their roles in a protest on. Lake Washington Officials believe the teens most likely ingested what they thought were legitimate opioid tablets when, in fact, they were counterfeit drugs laced with other toxic drugs, like fentanyl, which is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. pic.twitter.com/N5Dfy6Us7e. We intend to engage similarly with all our city partnersWe know that talking about it is not enough.. A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. Being a victim myself, it was hard seeing that when people do speak up, they just instantly get expelled, whether theyre a victim or not. See the table below for some of the examples: For parent-approved activities that are known in advance (i.e., vacation, non-SHS sports, college visits, etc. Evergreen Two Skyline High School juniors have died by suspected fentanyl overdoses within the last two months. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Johanknecht said it should be assumed any pills sold on the street is not purely the advertised pill, and contain deadly amounts of fentanyl. The whole being silenced is really damaging for them and the other victims in the crowd, said Samantha Mercado, another Newport student. JV A bill partially unwinding a 2021 policing reform clears the Legislature. Anderson said among the opioid overdose calls they receive, the most alarming calls are from family members who return home to find their young loved ones unconscious. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Mailing address for all three: 12111 NE 1st Street, Bellevue, WA 98005. Girls Golf Like other opioids, fentanyl depresses the central nervous system, produces a euphoric feeling, reduces pain and causes death by reducing the respiratory drive, said Nicole Yarid, a forensic pathologist with the King County Medical Examiners Office. This will not be a one-off conversation in our city. These guidelines override our typical guidelines for keeping students home from school due to illness. A Facebook page started Wednesday had many messages saying they would miss the girl, and praising her musical talent. Washingtons COVID-19 exposure notification app is scheduled to conclude May 11 in tandem with the end of the Public Health. Sammamish We will work with the children. One boy died Aug. 11 and the other died Monday, King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht said at a news briefing Wednesday, flanked by Sammimishs mayor, police chief and other public officials. You cant determine if its real by looking at it.. Communities have responded to the opioid epidemic by not keeping narcotics in the home and having safe places to dispose of unused medications, as well as a push by doctors to prescribe lower prescription amounts.